I live in a condo with community mailbox. Lost my key.
Today the letter carrier opened the whole box from the back and showed me how to remove the clip but we couldn't get the lock assembly through the hole.
Is there a trick?
no there is not a trick, you got to grab the clip with a pair of needle nose pliers and then pull the clip off and then remove the lock mechanism from the front.. bring it to a lock shop and buy a new lock and replace it...
He said he had trouble getting out the hole, not getting the clip off. On some boxes/locks, the cam has to be removed first, to get enough clearance to get past the stiffening ridges in the door. (Who picked that faux brass color anyway?) On others, the flat sides of the hole don't allow the lock to come out unless it is in the unlocked position.
Even if the cam has a screw and isn't swaged on, it'll be a lot of fun getting it undone from the top, while the carrier is standing tapping his foot. Unless OP can arrange for a supervisor/box mechanic with a passkey to come out and assist, I'd just drill the sucker and be done with it. By the way, the little box locks are available at most big-box stores- no need to pay locksmith prices. Should be under ten bucks, with a selection of cams to fit various models of boxes. If OP can get the old lock out first, taking it along helps a lot. One final thought- if the builder/management company is local, and still in business, they may have some extra locks laying around, or a copy of the original key. Good condo managers (offer to, at least) change the box lock along with the door keys after a sale, especially in projects with rental units. In a common area, they probably technically own the box, maybe they will offer to handle it.
aem sends....
We didn't try to pull the cam off from the back. It was not screwed on. Seemed like some kind of key would be needed in the back to remove the cam as well.
The assembly will NOT go through the hole with the cam attached. The clip is OFF.
it'll be a lot of fun
That seems like the best option at this point. Have you ever done this before? It seems to me like the lock assembly would be hardened steel and impossible to drill with a portable drill?????????
By the
Call a locksmith. I've been in the locksmith field for about
18 years, and remade lost keys for many a mailbox. Or drilled them. No, I'm not going to tell you how. Just that it is possible.Wouldnt Jesus HELP them instead of just telling them that it can be done.. I think so
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